Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-23
A BROOKLYN HOLIDAY,
Sunday in Prospect Park and tho Sub
urbs.


urbs.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June Is.
Never did q lovelier day dawn on the
metropolis than last Sunday. 1t was just
cool enough, the sky was dazzlingly clear and
there was air enough in motion. The recent
rains had washed the face of nature to purity
the air was full Of ozone, and every one of
the $500 900 people in New York and Brook
Ign felt the impulse to get out doors and go
somewhere And nearly all who were able
did $3.50, 900 or more to the Long Island
suburbs and islands down the bay, as many
or more to New Jersey, an even larger num-
Der to Central park and Harlem, while all the
loose footed clerks and laborers of Brooklyn
turned to the eastern suburbs, especially to
Prospect park
Though much smaller than New York's
Central park, the Brooklyn retreat is quite as
beautiful, and in few hours there / wit
messed the most pleasing of all scenes to an
American-20, 900 of the so called common
people enjoying themselves with all the free
dom heart could wish, and yet without dis
order, hilarity without drunkenness, play
without rudeness, and perfect order without
the services of a single policeman. As a test
Of our progress in self government the scene
was truly sublime. In perhaps dozen places
stood policemen to direct the visitor that
certain plots of grass or shrubbery were re-
served, but only to direct There were nc
tresspassers, no drunken men, no fights, no
arrests The sovereign people were there to
enjoy their own, and not to mar or deface it.
And in conversation with these guardians |
learned that public opinion and popular taste
have so advanced in recent years that guar
dianship is scarcely needed. Objects of art
Y,nx fNaf, -,
and decorum is maintained in the walks and
green retreats. 1t is the great resort of the
sober middle classes, and very rarely, indeed
are the police called to quell any disturbance.
The place has tranquilizing effect, and to
see thousands of families, parents and children
in groups, walking under the trees, lying on
the grass, or taking in the pleasures of the
lake or booths, was a rest to the wearied mind
The serpentine lake, which winds in and
out among groves and rocky shores for a mile
or more, was dotted with pleasure boats; the
aged and the lazy paid dime or two for the
privilege of being rowed or carried swiftly in
the steam yacht; but the young and ardent
especially the muscular lad with his best girl ir
tow seized the occasion to display strength
and skill with the oars. For the little folks, the
greatest attraction was at the whirling swings
and imitation horses. What does posses
Siiii,u GA Va etSooo Az VI IL yOoiS. budt IleNN
will beg to be whirled swiftly in a circle SC
small, that an old fellow grows dizzy In look
ing at them; or that, for want Of a swing
they will turn round and round till they fall
to the ground with swimming of the head 2
No moderate sum would tempt some Of us old
fellows to do it, and it is recorded that one OF
the cruelest tortures of olden times consisted
in whirling the victim around till he was
senseless. Perhaps this is the Juvenile sub
stitute for the intoxication older ones gel
from strong liquors At any rate the wooden
horses are always in demand, and the little
ones scream with delight as they are sweep,
swiftly around the circle. The little carriages
drawn by goats are not half so attractive
Int they are we'll patronized by more sobe,
class of Juveniles. 1t is easy to see that the
older people are there to rest; they saunte,
gently in shaded paths, lie in the grass, or or
nament the handsome benches, and their mos
exciting amusement is found in a carriag.
ride or sail on the lake. The best hours K
visit Prospect park are from . p. M till dark
The street car lines completely encircle the
plot, and in three minutes walk from the cal
one may be in a grove 50 profound and Sc
cluded that there Is no sign OF q great city
being within thousand miles. Hill, grove
lake and grassy mead have all the beauty o.
nature, improved but not married by art
Heavens blessing the men who reser vet
the parks Of New York and Brooklyn.
J. H. HEApHK.